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June 8, 2008

G66: Red Sox 2, Mariners 1

Masterson (6-3-1-3-4, 88) turned in another quality start and the trio of Craig Hansen, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon each threw an inning. Seattle managed only one hit from its final 25 batters.

The red-hot J.D. Drew drove in both Boston runs, with a bases-loaded HBP in the second and a line drive solo dong to deep center to lead off the sixth.

Also, Sundays in June usually mean graduations, end of year picnics, weddings, etc. We have to go to a farewell dinner in an hour or so ourselves. I am looking forward to June ending! Too many boring dinners and events this month.

Friday we had a bris in NJ, last night a birthday dinner for Harvey's mother (91). It seems like forever since we just could be home!

These various things are a mix of obligation and family/friends whom we care about so we want to be there to show support (like the dinner tonight and the bris). We have too much guilt to blow these things off. We just describe them as "non-recreational" and make the best of them. It's the ones for work that we really resent.

Amy - so did we, but the tub upstairs had non-standard fittings making replacement harder especially since I couldn't take any time off since I had to be available to answer any technical questions on Wed., Thu., and Fri.

Of course BH is taking the opportunity to decide to change the decor in the Kitchen.

I have always thought the "sweet swing" was a bit of a myth, just a subjective way for fans to enjoy their favorite batters. But with him...he doesn't seem to swing that hard. Maybe that's what's meant by the "sweet swing".

Masterson is probably my favorite pitcher this year. I vote for the short leash 7th and see what he can do. Let him do the work to save his own win. I don't know how things work sometimes but in the post season this year if Schilling is back then we should have Masterson in the pen. We have a lot of pitching depth in a post season situation. Beckett and Lester pitch in the first game, Schilling and HH in game 2 and Dice and Masterson in game 3? Wake could fill the gaps and Oki and Pap pitching alternately. Could this work?

I really think it's important to keep many after papi to keep them throwing strikes to papi who will hurt you big. Manny will get hits and long dong silvers. I just think that lineup will get RBI opps for all the guys and will really get some rallies going. With drew down low its all upside down. What I really want to know is why not do this? what is the con to my pro?

Andy, unless the player batting after a slugger is a complete zero and the rest of the line-up is pathetic, there is no such thing as "protection" in line-ups. This has been proven again and again, but media types keep talking about it. There are so many examples of hitters having greater seasons AFTER their supposed "protection" left via fee agency or trade that it's impossible to list them all. Here's one of dozens: in 1967, everyone said that Yaz's chances at a Triple Crown were dead when Conigliaro, the only other genuine power hitter on that team, went down. But Yaz was BETTER from then on. It just doesn't matter...pitchers try to get hitters out, that's all. The line-up just doesn't make that much difference.Your line-up is fine. So are a hundred others. The only really dumb line-up is one using Lugo as a lead-off batter---like today.

Here at Wicked Pissa Dude.com we are convinced that anyone could hit .300 behind Manny. I guess it stands to reason that because JD Drew has some protection in his slot in the lineup he ripping the cover off the ball. Now we just need to find a spot for Papi to hit, or let's just give him the year off, he deserves it and we'll bling him out at the end of the season.

It seemed to work out fine last year, the lineup , that is....Drew has stepped up , but when Papi returns I assume he will go back to the third spot....And I don't see Tito ever having Drew and Papi in the lineup back to back.....